Amanda Nunes To Defend Bantamweight Title Against Julianna Pena

Two-division champion Amanda Nunes is set to drop back down to bantamweight for her next title defense as she welcomes a new challenger in Julianna Pena at UFC 265 on August 7th.

Pena is the No.6 ranked contender in the division and had been set to fight Holly Holm at UFC On ESPN 24 next month, before her opponent pulled out for medical reasons.

Instead of pursuing a replacement opponent, Pena instead decided to shoot for the moon and called for a title fight with Nunes instead, and it appears that Nunes has accepted.

A former TUF winner, Pena holds an overall 6-2 record in the UFC to date and is coming off a submission win over former title contender Sara Mcmann last time out, while she’s also defeated the likes of Cat Zingano and Jessica Eye.

Nunes two losses came against Valentina Shevchenko and Germaine de Randamie though – two women who Nunes has already defeated.

In fact, it’s hard to find anyone that ‘The Lioness’ hasn’t defeated these days as she continues to solidify her status as the greatest female MMA fighter of all-time with five successful title defenses at 135lbs, and a further two at 145lbs.

Nunes vs. Pena is currently the only fight attached to UFC 265 and it remains to be seen if it will take headline or co-main event status on the night.

Ross launched MMA Insight (previously FightOfTheNight.com) in 2009 as a way to channel his passion for the sport of mixed martial arts. He's since penned countless news stories and live fight reports along with dozens of feature articles as the lead writer for the site, reaching millions of fans in the process.